The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Aboulela, Leila. The Translator. Grove/Atlantic, Inc., 1999.

Leila Aboulela's novel The Translator is a third person narrative, written in the past tense. Part One of the novel takes place in Aberdeen, Scotland. Part Two is set in Khartoum, Sudan. Though the novel contains many flashbacks, dreams, and memories that shift the narrative back and forth in time, the following summary employs a linear structure.

As a young girl, Sammar grew up in Scotland with her parents and brother, Waleed. When she was seven, her family traveled to her parents' city and country of origin, Khartoum, Sudan. There she met her cousins, Tarig and Hanan, and aunt, Mahasen, for the first time. She soon grew attached to her cousins, and began seeing Khartoum as home. Over the years, she and Tarig realized their romantic feelings for one another. After marrying, they moved to Aberdeen, Scotland, so Tarig could study medicine.

Not long after Sammar gave birth to their son, Amir, Tarig was killed in a car accident. Distraught and alone, Sammar stripped her apartment of all evidence of the past, and left for Khartoum. She had no intention of leaving. However, she had not anticipated her aunt's hostility. When Sammar tried remarrying, her aunt grew angry, insisting Sammar devote her life to Amir instead. Overwhelmed, Sammar left Amir in Khartoum, and moved back to Aberdeen.

She began working as a translator at the local university, a job through which she met her Middle-Eastern historian, scholar, and lecturer, Rae. At first, Sammar regarded their friendship as a work relationship. The more time they spent together, however, the more attached she became to him. Over the winter holidays, Rae traveled to Edinburgh to visit family, while Sammar remained in Aberdeen. Over the break from university, Rae began calling Sammar regularly. They talked about work, politics, and their personal lives. In these conversations, Sammar felt her love for Rae growing. However, she feared what her feelings might mean. As a widowed Muslim woman, she risked her reputation communicating with Rae so intimately.

Despite this knowledge, Sammar did not stop talking to Rae. They continued to see each other after Rae returned to Aberdeen. The more Rae vocalized his feelings for Sammar, the more confused she became. She eventually started pressing Rae to convert to Islam so they could be together. When Rae refused, Sammar grew angry and hurt. She fled to Cairo early, where she fulfilled a three-week contract as an interpreter. Afterwards, she returned to Khartoum to be with her family.

While there, she resigned from the university, and decided to settle in Khartoum. Despite her efforts to make a new life, she could not forget Rae. Then one night she realized that all of her prayers for Rae's conversion had been selfish. She began praying that he would have a change of heart for his own good. Not long thereafter, Rae's close friend wrote to Sammar. In the letter, he told Sammar Rae had converted and wanted to marry her. Two weeks after she replied, Rae visited Sammar in Khartoum. They began planning their new life together in Aberdeen.